Locking means for extension cords and the like



J. NUIEBLING April 29, 1941.

LOCKING MEANS FOR EXTENSION CORDS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 3. 1958 Patented pr. 29. 1941 N i T E D TA 1:311

LOCKING MEAN S FOR EXTENSION CORDS AND THE LIKE John Nuebling, Chicago, 111., assignor of one-hall to Gail E. Nutty, Chicago, Ill.

i ()laims.

My invention relates to locking means for electric cords for preventing their accidental disconnection from wall plugs, and it has for its object the provision of a new and improved form and arrangement of parts whereby a cord can be readily secured releasably in operative relationship to an outlet box. For attaining my desired result, I have provided a retainer clip in the form of a cup-shaped sheet metal hood split at one side so as to enable it to be spread to the necessary extent for forcing it into operative engagement with the cord adjacent to the plug cap to which the end of the cord is attached, such hood member being provided with outwardly extending lugs at opposite sides which are capable of being brought into detachable engagement with wings in forwardly ofiset relation to the face of the wall plate which covers the mouth of the outlet box. For making the clip readily engageable with the wings of the plate, and clip is made so as to be easily rotatable with respect to the plug cap and the wings are open at one side so as to receive the lugs slidably into position as the hood is rotated with respect to the p 1 It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my several objects are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. l is a face view of a portion of wall having an outlet box secured therein, and with a cord attached to the outlet box and held in position by my improved means.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view taken substantially at line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the wall plate shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hood member forming a part of my improved construction; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the hood member from a different angle, with the hood spread slightly as for application to a cord.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawing, in which corresponding parts are indlcated by the same reference characters, it indlcates a wall of any approved type having an open ing ll therein within which an outlet box it of any approved type is secured by means of a retaming strap it or in any other suitable manner. In the arrangement shown, the usual receptacle ii is secured in position by means of a metal strap iii secured by screws it to lugs ll extending outwardly from the ends of the hon l2. TJpon the i'rcnt face of the host it and the receptacle it,

there is the usual wall plate It, secured in position by means of screws i9 taking into the strap it.

such wing portions being open at one side so as to receive retaining lugs slidably into engagement therewith. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1, the wing 20 at the top is open at the left, while the wing 20 below is open at the right.

In Fig. 2, I have shown an electric cord it provided with the ordinary plug cap 22 on its end portion, the prongs 23 of such plug cap being mounted in the receptacle i l of the outlet box in the ordinary manner. About the plug cap 22, there is mounted a cup-shaped hood 2 formed of sheet metal pressed into shape and split at one side as indicated at 25 in Fig. 4 for enabling the hood to be spread slightly against the resiliency of the metal for application to a cord such as the cord 2! as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. At opposite sides, the hood member M is provided with outwardly extending lugs 28 which are engageable with the wings it of the plate to, as is best shown in Fig. 2.

As will be readily understood, the cup-shaped hood member to is readily applicable to an ordinary extension cord adjacent to the plug cap 2% in substantially the relation as shown in Fig. 2. As is clearlyvshown in said figure, the opening at the center of the hood member it is of such size as to cause the hood to grip the cord it lightly for holding the hood normally in operative relation to the plug cap 22 asshown. In use, the cap 22 is connected in the usual manner with the receptacle M by pushing the prongs 23 directly into engaging position, whereupon the hood member 2c is rotated in clockwise direction in Fig. 1 for bringing the lugs it of the hood member into en gagement' with the wlngsill of the plate. The arrangement is such that the lugs 26 have a iridtlonal engagement with the wings so as normally to hold the retainer clip 24 lnadiusted holding position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When however it is necessary to disconnect the cord from the outlet box, the hood or clip member 24 is readily rotatable in counterclockwise direction in said Fig. l for disengaging the lugs 26 from the Wings 20 so as to permit the cord to be dis connected in the usual manner.

ited thereto except so far as the claims may be so' limited, it being understood that changes might well be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. Locking means for electric cords, comprising in combination a hood member shaped substantially to fit the plug cap of a cord and split at one side portion so it may be positioned readily around the cord and in self-conformable engagement with the plug cap by spreading the hood slightly against the force of its resiliency, a wall plate associated with the usual type of wall socket having wings struck up from-the surface thereof in outwardly oifset relation to the face thereof, and lugs extending outwardly from said hood at opposite sides thereof in position to engage said wings.

2. Locking means for electric plug caps and sockets of the class described herein, comprising in combination a hood member shaped substantially to fit the plug cap of a cord and split at one side portion so as to be positioned readily around the cord and in engagement with the plug cap by spreading the hood slightly against the force of its resiliency, an interchangeable wall plate apertured to permit access to said socket and having struck up wings on opposite sides of said aperture, and lugs extending outwardly from said hood atppposite sides thereof in position to engage frictionally the underside of said wings and the outer surface of said face plate upon rotary movement of the hood after the plug cap is in operative position in the receptacle adapted by such engagement with said wings to hold the plug cap releasably in operative position, said hood member being formed of a metal which is sumciently deformable so as to be disengaged from said wall plate by a. pull on said cord of less strcmth than that necessary to tear said wall plate from the wall.

3. Locking-means for electric plug caps and sockets of the class described herein, comprising in combination a hood member formed of sheet metal and shaped substantially to fit the plug cap of a cord and split at one side portion so as to be engageable readily over the cord by spreading the hood slightly against the force of resiliency oi the metal, said hood being arranged to have efiective engagement with the cord adjacent to the plug cap for holding the hood member normally in operative position with respect to said plug cap, and lugs extending outwardly from said hood at opposite sides thereof in position to engage wings in outwardly offset relation to the face of the wall plate of an outlet box and integral with said wall plate, said lugs being of such thickness with respect to the relative position of the wings as to have a frictional engageinent with the wings for preventing accidental disengagement oi the lugs from the wings.

4. Locking means for electric plug caps and sockets of the class described herein, comprising in combination a hood member formed of sheet metal and shaped substantially to fit the plug cap of a cord and split at one side portion so that it may be positioned readily around the cord by spreading the hood slightly against the force of resiliency of the metal, said hood being arranged to have eflective engagement with the plug cap for holding the plug cap normally in operative po-' sition with respect to a wall plate, and lugs extending outwardly from said hood at opposite sides thereof in Position to engage wings in outwardly onset relation to the face of the wall plate of an outlet box and integral with said wall plate,

said lugs being of such thickness with respect to the relative position of the wings as to have a frictional engagement with the wings for preventing accidental disengagement of the lugs from the wings.

JOHN NUEBLING. 

